2020 Honda Passport vs 2019 GMC Acadia

The 2019 GMC Acadia was a handsome SUV with a shorter wheelbase that provided a more athletic stance. Its upright grille gave it an upscale appearance, making it as nice as, if not nicer than, the more expensive Buick Envision. Although it was considered a midsize SUV, it felt closer in size to compact competitors like the Nissan Rogue. The Acadia came in several trims, from the base SL to the luxurious Denali, each offering various features and options. The SLT-1 AWD trim, for instance, added a Bose 8-speaker premium stereo system, 18-inch painted aluminum wheels, and a number of driver-assistance features. The Denali trim brought luxury features like a hands-free power tailgate and leather-appointed seating.

The 2020 Honda Passport followed the Honda playbook closely, offering a practical and rugged design. It was essentially a pared-down Honda Pilot but more athletic and capable, fitting between the Pilot and CR-V in size and price. The Passport came in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The Elite trim was loaded with features like perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The Passport also had more ground clearance than the Pilot, making it suitable for off-road adventures. Its interior was well-appointed with a mix of hard-wearing and soft-to-the-touch materials, providing a spacious and comfortable cabin for five passengers.

The 2019 GMC Acadia offered two engine options: an inline 4-cylinder and a V6. The base 4-cylinder engine produced 193 horsepower, while the 3.6-liter V6 engine delivered 310 horsepower, providing fantastic acceleration. The V6 was available with both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), while the 4-cylinder was FWD-only. The AWD system featured GMC’s Active Twin Clutch system, allowing drivers to switch between FWD, AWD, Sport mode, and All-Terrain mode. The V6 Acadia could tow up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. Fuel economy for the base SL with the 4-cylinder engine was 21 mpg city, 26 highway, and 23 combined. The SLT-1 AWD with the V6 returned 17/25/20 mpg, and in a week of combined driving, it achieved 19.8 mpg.

The 2020 Honda Passport came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine across all trims, generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the engine provided smooth performance in various driving situations. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city, 25 highway, and 22 combined, and AWD models getting 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. The Passport's torque-vectoring AWD system could send 70 percent of engine torque to the rear axle and 100 percent to either rear wheel, enhancing its off-road capability. The Passport could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package, outperforming rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2019 GMC Acadia provided ample space for the driver and front passenger, with deep trays and bins for small items. The SL, SLE-1, and SLE-2 trims featured 7-passenger seating, while the SLT-1 AWD had 6-passenger seating with second-row captain’s chairs. The third-row seats were suitable only for kids, and accessing them was easier from the passenger side. The Acadia offered 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 41.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 79 cubic feet with both the second and third rows down. This was small for a midsize SUV but still functional, especially with rubberized floor mats for easy cleaning.

The 2020 Honda Passport was practical and right-sized, offering good visibility and spacious seats for four adults. It did not have a third-row option. The Passport featured height-adjustable seatbelts for front-row occupants and three full LATCH connections in the second row. The seats were comfortable, similar to those in the Honda Pilot and Odyssey, with ample knee- and legroom. The Passport offered 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the most under-floor storage in its class, and a power liftgate. The interior had plenty of small-item storage, including a large center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors. The heating and cooling functionalities were effective, and the hard plastic surfaces were easy to clean.

The 2019 GMC Acadia's base SL trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen running GMC’s IntelliLink infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot. The SLT-1 trim upgraded to an 8-inch screen, and the Denali trim added standard navigation. Higher trims also included a 4.2-inch color information display within the gauge cluster, with the Denali offering an 8-inch display. The Acadia was available with a color head-up display showing vehicle speed, engine rpm, and other information.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base Sport model had a 5.0-inch display, while the EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was responsive and easy to navigate, with pinch, swipe, and tap functionality. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, a seven-speaker audio system, push-button start, and keyless entry. Higher trims offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Passport's dashboard design was similar to the Pilot's, looking a bit outdated but still functional.

The 2019 GMC Acadia came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. The Driver Alert Package 1, standard on the SLT-1 and optional on the SLE-2, added a blind-spot warning system, lane-change alert, and rear park assist. The SLT-2 trim included the Driver Alert Package 2, which featured low-speed forward automatic braking, lane-departure warning, pedestrian detection, forward-collision alert, adaptive headlights, and high beams, as well as rear cross-traffic alert and front and rear parking sensors.

The 2020 Honda Passport was designed with safety in mind, achieving good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA and being named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Passport came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, including Collision Mitigation Braking System, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It also had a standard rearview camera with a birds-eye view. Higher trims offered dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection.